Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “gorgeous” come from?

Gorgeous comes from Middle English gorgeouse, derived from Middle French gorgias, which comes from Old French gourgias, of uncertain origin.

gorgeous (English): Very beautiful; Very enjoyable, pleasant, tasty,...

Definitions

  1. Very beautiful; Very enjoyable, pleasant, tasty,...

Ancestry of “gorgeous”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishgorgeouse—
2Middle Frenchgorgiaselegant, fashionable
3Old Frenchgourgias—

Words derived from “gorgeous”

  • gorgeously
  • gorgeousness
  • ungorgeous
Every word from Old French gourgias →